192 APES AND MONKEYS 



came from the Loango valley instead of the Congo ; but 

 the cupidity of the average Portuguese would never allow 

 anything to go at liberty for a year if it could be sold 

 before that time. 



Johanna is accredited with a great deal of intelligence, 

 but I do not regard her as being above the average of her 

 race. Since the death of her companion, Chico, she has 

 received the sole attention of her keeper, and since that 

 time has been taught a few things which are neither 

 marvelous nor difficult. In point of intellect she can- 

 not be regarded as an extraordinary specimen of her 

 tribe. I do not mean to detract from her reputation, 

 but I have failed to discover in her an}" high order of 

 mental qualities. 



The reason why Johanna may be regarded as the most 

 valuable specimen for stud}" is the fact that she is the only 

 female of her race that has ever, in captivity, reached the 

 state of puberty. She has done so, and this fact enables 

 us to determine certain things which have never heretofore 

 been known. This affords the zoologists an opportunity 

 for the study of her sexual developments which may not 

 again present itself in many years to come. From this 

 important point of view she presents the student with 

 many new problems in that branch of science. I have 

 elsewhere stated my opinion that the female chimpanzee 

 reaches the age of puberty at seven to nine years, and 

 I have many reasons which I will not here recount that 

 cause me to adhere to that belief. But the uncertainty of 

 the age of this ape does not destroy her value as a subject 

 of scientific study. 



